CSUN gallery.

Washington Mutual presented a collection of 30 bronze statues to Cal State Northridge by American artist Harry Jackson for permanent display in the fall.

The Wyoming-born artist, Jackson has had art collections featured at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, the Vatican and in Queen Elizabeth II's private collection.

Jackson was previously recommended for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999.

The statues are worth about $740,000 and will be expanding the CSUN art collection with the new Washington Mutual Bank Gallery of Harry Jackson Art.

The Gallery construction will also be funded by WaMu with a location receiving approximately 30,000 visitors a year, encouraging western-themed art.

The Jackson sculptures were approved by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs to be transferred by WaMu to the university. The statues were acquired in conjunction with a public art covenant between the City of Los Angeles and Great Western Bank, the developer of the office park with WaMu's call center in Chatsworth.

"We are honored to be chosen by the City of Los Angeles and Washington Mutual as the new home for these remarkable pieces. This gift continues Cal State Northridge's commitment to providing new and unique cultural opportunities for our students and the surrounding community," said Judy C. Knudson, Vice President of University Advancement at CSUN in a press release.